Sailing a 22ft Cape Dory from Boston to Southern Florida
- Thread starter palcuz
- Start date
Sailing the whole way is an admirable goal and in theory, it is possible to sail the entire way, in practice it is not. There are several factors to consider, current, water depth, waterway width, and bridges.
There are long sections of the canal that are only about 300' wide. With an adverse wind that means repeatedly tacking upwind with lots of boat traffic around you. Doable? Yes. Safe and practicable? Not really. Add in current and it becomes nearly impossible. Passage is also restricted by water depth, there is often shoaling that extends well into the canals and creeks, further restricting navigation.
Then there are the bridges. Waiting for a bridge to open will mean dropping the sails with current that is always adverse, it is either pushing the boat away from the bridge or pushing the boat towards the bridge, neither is helpful. Topping that off, the bridges are usually located in developed areas with flukey wind patterns due to the buildings. Some bridges may not open for boats under sail alone.
To do the Cape Cod Canal he'll need to be at the Mass Bay entrance as the tide begins to move down the canal. He'll get a couple of knots boost in his speed and will be out of the canal in an hour or so. Same with the East River and the C&D canal.
To add to what Dave said - the C&D canal actually prohibits sailing, so motoring through there is a must, unless he plans on sailing all the way outside from Cape May to Norfolk. That would be bypassing the entire Chesapeake and missing all the good sights to see and anchorages along the way.
Making the trip in a 22’ boat would be a pretty good accomplishment in anyone’s book. I wouldn’t try to add to it with extra hurdles to avoid the canals. Enjoy sailing in open water when it’s available, but enjoy the ICW for what it is, including the narrower sections of motoring.
Making the trip in a 22’ boat would be a pretty good accomplishment in anyone’s book. I wouldn’t try to add to it with extra hurdles to avoid the canals. Enjoy sailing in open water when it’s available, but enjoy the ICW for what it is, including the narrower sections of motoring.
Hey
Cape Cod. Plymouth on the left side (in the yellow circle), Provincetown on the upper right (also in a yellow circle). The Cape Cod Canal (CCC) in the lower left, connecting Cape Cod Bay to Buzzards Bay.
Transiting the CCC is very easy (assuming the weather is moderate). The actual canal is pretty short, less than 10nm. You are not allowed to sail through the canal. You must have an engine and it must be on. Your sails can be up and drawing, but you can't tack your way through. The currents run quickly, up to 4 kts. This is a good thing. Time your travel to take advantage of the current. There are harbors and marinas on both ends of the canal so you can wait for a good time to go. There is one railroad bridge, but it is in the up position most of the time.
I transited the CCC last month, on my trip to and from Maine. The transit was fast and easy.
If you go around cape code instead of using the CCC, there are no harbors on the east tide of cape cod. From Provincetown in the north to Monomoy in the south is over 50nm. That will take a LONG time in a slow boat.
Barry
Cape Cod. Plymouth on the left side (in the yellow circle), Provincetown on the upper right (also in a yellow circle). The Cape Cod Canal (CCC) in the lower left, connecting Cape Cod Bay to Buzzards Bay.
Transiting the CCC is very easy (assuming the weather is moderate). The actual canal is pretty short, less than 10nm. You are not allowed to sail through the canal. You must have an engine and it must be on. Your sails can be up and drawing, but you can't tack your way through. The currents run quickly, up to 4 kts. This is a good thing. Time your travel to take advantage of the current. There are harbors and marinas on both ends of the canal so you can wait for a good time to go. There is one railroad bridge, but it is in the up position most of the time.
I transited the CCC last month, on my trip to and from Maine. The transit was fast and easy.
If you go around cape code instead of using the CCC, there are no harbors on the east tide of cape cod. From Provincetown in the north to Monomoy in the south is over 50nm. That will take a LONG time in a slow boat.
Barry
Hello- thanks for the reply. Guy has decided to take the canal. I will do my best to write an update this evening. Thanks again for the help!
Trip Update. All comments welcome.
On Monday September 14th, Captain Guy Fiero departed Gloucester Harbor aboard his 22ft Cape Dory sailboat to try his hand at an endurance sailing expedition. His goal is to reach Florida within 4 months if good sailing weather prevails, and as long as his equipment holds out in the elements.
Captain Fiero has a plan to sail inland along the Intercoasal Waterway during his trip South. Many larger sailboats would have some difficulty with this route due to some of the shallow depths with their deeper keels. The Cape Dory on which Guy Fiero sails draws just under 3ft of water at the keel, making it ideal for this passage. The ICW will help to keep rough sea conditions to a minimum as it winds West, North and then South again. Taking this route will keep a more defined sea state, but does not mean the journey will be without trial and will certainly be a test of endurance given the circumstances under which he has embarked. Captain Fiero has a minimalist 6hp Tohatsu long shaft outboard that he will use along the ICW, but will be under sail in any area suitable.
This update of progress comes at one week past his departure, on Tuesday, September 20th.
On the morning of Monday, September 14th Captain Fiero had a goal to reach Plymouth harbor by Sunset, approximately 36 nautical miles from his mooring off of Ten Pound island in Gloucester Harbor.
Fiero's first report of position came at about 4pm that same Monday afternoon when he was still 13 nautical miles North-East of his shortened destination. His course was due South and the sailing speed over ground was averaging 3 knots. Due to his late departure at 10am he had decided to make his first overnight stop at a mooring at Spectacle Island off of Boston instead of reaching to Plymouth. At the time of communication the sailboat was still 3 hours away from the island. He would not arrive until sunset.
Captain Fiero would spend the next 35 hours hunkered down on a mooring off Spectacle as weather conditions were not favorable to sail the following day. He reports being tires and bored during that time on the mooring.
At 7am on Wednesday, September 16th Fiero would leave Spectacle island on a compass bearing of 130 degrees heading almost due South away from the his temporary mooring and past an old highway bridge out on the islands at the mouth of Boston harbor. He did not need to tack too much as the wind was out of the West and he was able to maintain his course on a broad reach with a SOG (speed over ground) of 5.5knots, just shy of maximum hull speed for the 22 foot Cape Dory Typhoon.
Fiero decided not to reef his mainsail at his departure but was pushed to "harden up" off of the North Scituate lighthouse, his position approximately 1 mile off of the light. He "backwinded" in order to reef the main sail due to the windy conditions. Backwinding involves heading into the wind between 45 and 90 degrees while main sail and jib are on opposite sides of the masthead. The tiller is lashed opposite the jib in order for the small boat to stay in place long enough to reef the mainsail (shorten it up and tie it off). This procedure of reefing shrinks the square area of the mainsail to generate less force from the windy conditions that were acting on the sail. He would make good time due to the higher winds of 15-20 knots just off shore.
At 3pm on Wednesday the 14th, a very tired Fiero arrived at the mouth of Plymouth harbor. He sailed "on a reach" all day as the wind was out of the west. Seas were high and the bow "plowed" with the following sea. He reached a top speed of 6.2kts with an average of around 5 knots. The Sonnet is towing a "SportYak" dinghy which allows for him to go ashore at the many stops along his journey South.
Fiero said Plymouth harbor appeared huge, very wide with some spots very shallow. He passed at high tide and said he could have had some trouble if he passed at low tide. He looked for anchorage about a mile out from shore but reports the winds were too strong. Reefed and beating through the harbor the wind still blew at 15-20kts.
Eventually the Sonnet was tied up at a mooring in the Plymouth Yacht Club field.
Some physical struggles began to appear while on the first legs of the trip. His right arm was becoming sore from a non-stop eight hours on a port-tack as the tiller tugged for the entire route. That was last Monday. The following day of nonstop sailing he was on a starboard tack for about the same time, so now his left arm also began to ache. The pace was difficult but he was confident he would get used to the physical demands.
As well as his physical difficulties, the captain took measures to alleviate stresses on the small vessel in the 18 to 25 knot winds by letting sails luff a bit; the creaking of stays and fittings were giving clues to the limits of the Carl Alberg designed Cape Dory "Typhoon".
After a tough few days off the coast, Captain Fiero found a bar that he said "made him feel at home". The bar specialized in British beer, yet none could be found! He enjoyed a Guinness to relax for the evening. He explored the nearby attractions of the Mayflower replica and Plymouth rock while in Plymouth.
Fiero intended to sail to Provincetown from Plymouth harbor the next day. On Friday, September 16th he left Plymouth but had a new destination. After getting some great advice from a salty launch driver at Plymouth Yacht club, he decided it would be a safe bet to use the Cape Cod Canal to make his way towards New York rather than face the rough currents, wind and wave on the outside of Cape Cod.
He departed Plymouth at 7am and arrived at the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal by 2pm. The Cape Cod canal has a curious tide schedule that must be adhered to on a small boat with minimal power. The Buzzards bay "bathtub" creates great currents when it empties into Cape Cod bay during the low-going tide. He would make the trek during the incoming, East to West tide when the "bathtub" filled.
He navigated the canal under the power of his small outboard and reports the canal was very beautiful and was an easier route than he had imagined when done with the guidance of somebody with experience, like the friendly launch driver who guided him.
Fiero would moor within Onset harbor just out of the Southern exit to the canal that evening, around 4pm at the innermost point of Buzzards Bay. He reports that he really enjoyed Onset and that the scenery was very gorgeous.
He stayed in Onset for a day. From Onset, on September 19th, Fiero intended on sailing to Martha's Vineyard but found conditions too rough and wind too high to get to the island. At 10:30am he aborted his sail and instead decided to seek shelter on the eastern side of the Elizabeth Islands at Tarpaulin Cove where he spent the night.
At the break of dawn on 19th of September the captain made his way into Narragansett Bay from Tarpaulin and Buzzards to an anchorage off of St Ida's Yacht club in Newport, Rhode Island. In light winds the trip took 9 hours doing 3-5 knots. Fiero says he got a "tough core workout" during that leg as the seas on the Vineyard sound were following at 6-8 feet while the winds off his stern were upwards of 15-20knots. He also reports that Woods Hole currents were very difficult and refracting wildly.
As I write this, Today is September 20th. Last evening Captain Fiero told me he intended to sail the 20 nautical miles from Newport to Block island. He will then sail a leg up into the Long Island Sound towards the East River in New York. Currents will be tricky there at a place called "Hell's Gate".
~palcuz
Looking forward to his next updates.
Please subscribe to Captain Fiero's YouTube channel as he will be sending video updates as well. Here is the link to the channel.
Youtube Channel
On Monday September 14th, Captain Guy Fiero departed Gloucester Harbor aboard his 22ft Cape Dory sailboat to try his hand at an endurance sailing expedition. His goal is to reach Florida within 4 months if good sailing weather prevails, and as long as his equipment holds out in the elements.
Captain Fiero has a plan to sail inland along the Intercoasal Waterway during his trip South. Many larger sailboats would have some difficulty with this route due to some of the shallow depths with their deeper keels. The Cape Dory on which Guy Fiero sails draws just under 3ft of water at the keel, making it ideal for this passage. The ICW will help to keep rough sea conditions to a minimum as it winds West, North and then South again. Taking this route will keep a more defined sea state, but does not mean the journey will be without trial and will certainly be a test of endurance given the circumstances under which he has embarked. Captain Fiero has a minimalist 6hp Tohatsu long shaft outboard that he will use along the ICW, but will be under sail in any area suitable.
This update of progress comes at one week past his departure, on Tuesday, September 20th.
On the morning of Monday, September 14th Captain Fiero had a goal to reach Plymouth harbor by Sunset, approximately 36 nautical miles from his mooring off of Ten Pound island in Gloucester Harbor.
Fiero's first report of position came at about 4pm that same Monday afternoon when he was still 13 nautical miles North-East of his shortened destination. His course was due South and the sailing speed over ground was averaging 3 knots. Due to his late departure at 10am he had decided to make his first overnight stop at a mooring at Spectacle Island off of Boston instead of reaching to Plymouth. At the time of communication the sailboat was still 3 hours away from the island. He would not arrive until sunset.
Captain Fiero would spend the next 35 hours hunkered down on a mooring off Spectacle as weather conditions were not favorable to sail the following day. He reports being tires and bored during that time on the mooring.
At 7am on Wednesday, September 16th Fiero would leave Spectacle island on a compass bearing of 130 degrees heading almost due South away from the his temporary mooring and past an old highway bridge out on the islands at the mouth of Boston harbor. He did not need to tack too much as the wind was out of the West and he was able to maintain his course on a broad reach with a SOG (speed over ground) of 5.5knots, just shy of maximum hull speed for the 22 foot Cape Dory Typhoon.
Fiero decided not to reef his mainsail at his departure but was pushed to "harden up" off of the North Scituate lighthouse, his position approximately 1 mile off of the light. He "backwinded" in order to reef the main sail due to the windy conditions. Backwinding involves heading into the wind between 45 and 90 degrees while main sail and jib are on opposite sides of the masthead. The tiller is lashed opposite the jib in order for the small boat to stay in place long enough to reef the mainsail (shorten it up and tie it off). This procedure of reefing shrinks the square area of the mainsail to generate less force from the windy conditions that were acting on the sail. He would make good time due to the higher winds of 15-20 knots just off shore.
At 3pm on Wednesday the 14th, a very tired Fiero arrived at the mouth of Plymouth harbor. He sailed "on a reach" all day as the wind was out of the west. Seas were high and the bow "plowed" with the following sea. He reached a top speed of 6.2kts with an average of around 5 knots. The Sonnet is towing a "SportYak" dinghy which allows for him to go ashore at the many stops along his journey South.
Fiero said Plymouth harbor appeared huge, very wide with some spots very shallow. He passed at high tide and said he could have had some trouble if he passed at low tide. He looked for anchorage about a mile out from shore but reports the winds were too strong. Reefed and beating through the harbor the wind still blew at 15-20kts.
Eventually the Sonnet was tied up at a mooring in the Plymouth Yacht Club field.
Some physical struggles began to appear while on the first legs of the trip. His right arm was becoming sore from a non-stop eight hours on a port-tack as the tiller tugged for the entire route. That was last Monday. The following day of nonstop sailing he was on a starboard tack for about the same time, so now his left arm also began to ache. The pace was difficult but he was confident he would get used to the physical demands.
As well as his physical difficulties, the captain took measures to alleviate stresses on the small vessel in the 18 to 25 knot winds by letting sails luff a bit; the creaking of stays and fittings were giving clues to the limits of the Carl Alberg designed Cape Dory "Typhoon".
After a tough few days off the coast, Captain Fiero found a bar that he said "made him feel at home". The bar specialized in British beer, yet none could be found! He enjoyed a Guinness to relax for the evening. He explored the nearby attractions of the Mayflower replica and Plymouth rock while in Plymouth.
Fiero intended to sail to Provincetown from Plymouth harbor the next day. On Friday, September 16th he left Plymouth but had a new destination. After getting some great advice from a salty launch driver at Plymouth Yacht club, he decided it would be a safe bet to use the Cape Cod Canal to make his way towards New York rather than face the rough currents, wind and wave on the outside of Cape Cod.
He departed Plymouth at 7am and arrived at the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal by 2pm. The Cape Cod canal has a curious tide schedule that must be adhered to on a small boat with minimal power. The Buzzards bay "bathtub" creates great currents when it empties into Cape Cod bay during the low-going tide. He would make the trek during the incoming, East to West tide when the "bathtub" filled.
He navigated the canal under the power of his small outboard and reports the canal was very beautiful and was an easier route than he had imagined when done with the guidance of somebody with experience, like the friendly launch driver who guided him.
Fiero would moor within Onset harbor just out of the Southern exit to the canal that evening, around 4pm at the innermost point of Buzzards Bay. He reports that he really enjoyed Onset and that the scenery was very gorgeous.
He stayed in Onset for a day. From Onset, on September 19th, Fiero intended on sailing to Martha's Vineyard but found conditions too rough and wind too high to get to the island. At 10:30am he aborted his sail and instead decided to seek shelter on the eastern side of the Elizabeth Islands at Tarpaulin Cove where he spent the night.
At the break of dawn on 19th of September the captain made his way into Narragansett Bay from Tarpaulin and Buzzards to an anchorage off of St Ida's Yacht club in Newport, Rhode Island. In light winds the trip took 9 hours doing 3-5 knots. Fiero says he got a "tough core workout" during that leg as the seas on the Vineyard sound were following at 6-8 feet while the winds off his stern were upwards of 15-20knots. He also reports that Woods Hole currents were very difficult and refracting wildly.
As I write this, Today is September 20th. Last evening Captain Fiero told me he intended to sail the 20 nautical miles from Newport to Block island. He will then sail a leg up into the Long Island Sound towards the East River in New York. Currents will be tricky there at a place called "Hell's Gate".
~palcuz
Looking forward to his next updates.
Please subscribe to Captain Fiero's YouTube channel as he will be sending video updates as well. Here is the link to the channel.
Youtube Channel
Sounds like good progress. I’d recommend finding a solution to hold the tiller while sailing to be able to get some time off the helm to stretch. A tiller tamer would do the trick, but there are likely other ways that those more experienced with tillers could talk about. It won’t work on all points of sail, but when fairly close to the wind it should be possible to balance the helm and sails to keep the boat tracking.
A nitpick - the area he’s heading to is most commonly known as Long Island Sound, not to be confused with the Hudson Bay in northern Canada. Also, the tricky section of East River is most properly Hell Gate, a “corruption of the Dutch phrase Helllegat”, though it is often repeated as Hell’s Gate or Hells Gate. ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_Gate )
Good writeup! To ease his time at the helm, I suggest he look into sheet to tiller steering. This is essentially using the pull of the main sheet to counteract a small amount of weather helm. There are some great diagrams if you search Google but this one is more or less how I did it on my old boat
I wanted to stop at Tarpaulin Cove on my trip from Cape Cod, but my idea got shot down! We were advised that going thru Wood's Hole was tricky and an unnecessary detour. I still want to get there someday! That's a private island ... visiting the beach is allowed but no wandering around inland!
Let us know where he is in real time. I imagine he is going to be hunkered-down, hopefully someplace safe, for quite a while now. We've had a high-wind event that started on Friday and will last until Thursday where he won't want to be anywhere offshore New Jersey. Gusts into the 50's and wind from NE. It is not pretty.
He is at Port Jefferson hunkered down. He has family there. He may not get to sail until Thursday if wind predictions are correct but we know how that goes. Windy season is upon us. He's got about around 80NM to reach Manasquan inlet. With a couple good days he could get there. At leisure he could do it in 3 days. He made close to a 60NM run a few days ago from Montauk to Jefferson on the 30th. 13hrs on the tiller....